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Resident urges city study to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety on Highway 101
Summary
During public comment at the Coos Bay work session, a resident urged the city to initiate a study to slow traffic and improve safety along U.S. Highway 101, citing a Reedsport plan and ODOT jurisdictional limits; city staff said they would look into the request.
At the opening of the Coos Bay City Council work session, resident Dean used public comment to urge the city to ask staff to initiate a traffic‑safety study to slow traffic and improve pedestrian crossings on U.S. Highway 101.
Dean referenced a master plan done in Reedsport and work by Brown Engineering as an example and said similar measures could be applied locally. “That is the master plan that Reedsport did … that's what Brown Engineering worked on, to slow down, and and make, the corridor through Reedsport safer,” he said.
Dean described the risk of high speeds at uncontrolled intersections and recalled his experience working in a San Francisco fire department: “I was holding it so so firmly because I was running across 4 lanes of of 101 that I figured, man, if I drop this phone, if I stop to get it, I'm dead on on 101.” He said Reedsport had to rely on ODOT for jurisdictional approval and suggested Knife River or similar contractors could implement changes locally.
Chelsea, a city staff member, noted logistics for follow‑up and staff agreed to pursue the matter. When asked who would initiate a study, staff replied they would "make a note" and follow up; later a staff member said, “ask. We'll, we'll look into that.” The exchange did not include a formal motion or vote.
Dean mentioned prior correspondence involving Mike Powder and Glenn Pedersen to illustrate local engagement; no additional public testimony on the item was recorded in the session.
Ending: City staff acknowledged the concern and agreed to follow up; the transcript shows no formal action, ordinance or funding decision during the work session.
